Chapter 35: In the Imperial Court and Outside of It

  Liu Xie's carriage sped from the outskirts to the city, and Lü Rui asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, do you still need me to play a game with Your Majesty?"

  Liu Xie looked at Lü Rui with a displeased expression and said: "No need to, Minister Lü!"

  Haha, Liu Xie is unhappy, but what does it have to do with me? I'm just here to watch the show!

  Soon, Liu Xie returned to the imperial palace. After returning to the imperial palace, Liu Xie did not rest, but instead issued an imperial edict, convening a meeting of officials for discussion! Poor ministers, who had just experienced the Yang Feng rebellion and had not yet caught their breath, were dragged by Liu Xie to the great hall.

  The officials were all disheveled and some were even slightly injured, but there was no way out, the emperor had summoned them, so they still had to come.

  Liu Xie looked at the officials below, his anger burning, what kind of situation is this? A grand ceremony to worship heaven, ended like this? Where is the imperial dignity? Cao Mengde, what do you want to do?

  About an hour later, Cao Caode strode in with his sword, followed by a group of civil and military officials. When Liu Xie saw Cao's demeanor, he thought to himself: "Another powerful minister?" Liu Xie calmed himself down, adjusted his clothes, and asked: "Lord Cao, has Yang Feng been captured?"

  Cao bowed and said: "I will report to Your Majesty, Yang Feng has escaped from Xudu under the cover of his soldiers. I will do my best to capture him and uphold the imperial law!"

  Liu Xie heard this and said, "What? You have deployed troops but still haven't captured Yang Feng? Whether Yang Feng is guilty or not hasn't been clarified yet. Now the person has escaped, there's no evidence. Cao Mengde, do you want to eliminate dissent?"

  Liu Xie asked again: "What were the casualties in this rebellion?"

  Xun Yu stepped forward and said: "I report to Your Majesty, Yang Feng's rebel army is large in number, but it is a mob that has come together, not worth fearing. Our military losses are not great, only many high-ranking officials in the court have died at the hands of the rebels!" After finishing speaking, Xun Yu handed over a list to Emperor Liu Xie.

  The eunuch handed the list to Emperor Xian, who took one look and fell off his throne. These people were all high-ranking officials who had escaped with him from Chang'an, but they had not been killed by the Western Liang army; instead, they had all died in a single uprising led by Yang Feng.

  Liu Xie was no longer the original Liu Xie. He was still clear about Cao Cao's power in Yanzhou. Suppressing his anger, he asked: "Cao Ai Qing, did you know about Yang Feng's rebellion beforehand?"

  This sentence Liu Xie had already asked Cao in private, but on the court, face to face questioning, that tone is different. Indeed, as soon as this word came out, it caused a thousand layers of turmoil, and the ministers may not be talented, but guessing the meaning behind the words is a master!

  Some of the slightly injured officials began to blame Cao, saying: "General Cao, did you have a prior arrangement? Trapping us in this predicament?"

  "Please, Your Majesty, uphold justice!"

  Lv Rui looked at a group of frenzied ministers, then looked at Cao's staff on the other side. A bunch of fools, don't you see that Cheng Yu is counting your heads, all of you have been located by Old Cao's GPS and are being watched by Cheng Yu, none of you will be left alive!

  Looking at the ministers on both sides arguing incessantly, Liu Xie's mouth corner revealed a hint of sinister smile! Still smiling? Liu Xie, do you think these ministers who support you will have a good ending? Exposed, exposed, indeed young people can't hold their temper! Hehe, Uncle Zhong is going to confiscate property, if I go, I'll also take the opportunity to grab some benefits!

  "Your Majesty, I, your old minister, have something to say!"

  A loud voice pierced through the entire hall, and the officials on both sides were stunned for a moment. Is there a third party? Lv Rui took a look, oh, it's this old fox, Yang Bi, the father of Yang Xiu, an old fox that neither Cao Cao nor Sima Yi can handle!

  Liu Xie looked up and said, "Yang Bing? Ha ha, this old minister is quite formidable. Liu Xie coughed and said, "Old General, please speak!"

  Yang Biao cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, General Cao has made great contributions in pacifying the rebellion and should be rewarded. As for whether he knew about it beforehand, this old minister thinks it's not important!"

  Yang Biao's words had barely fallen when a number of officials stood up and said: "We concur!"

  There is still a group of clear-headed officials!

  Liu Xie was stunned for a moment, thinking back to the course of events. He himself had been too impulsive and hadn't thought things through. Liu Xie waved his hand and said: "Let's just drop this matter, all of you loved ones can withdraw! The affairs of the dead and wounded will be handled by General Cao and Yang Taishou!"

  The eunuch saw this situation and shouted loudly: "Withdraw from court!" The crowd rushed out!

  Liu Xie did not summon Cao into the palace this time, and Cao also did not stay for long, but instead returned to his own residence of the Minister of Works! The harmony between the ruler and his minister is like fish and water? It's likely that they will rarely see each other from now on!

  "Has the old master returned?" Lady Bian saw Cao Cao entering through the main gate, with Cao Pi and a group of young men following behind him to pay their respects.

  "Hmm, I'm going to take a bath now. Tell the kitchen to prepare something for me. And, without my orders, no one is allowed to disturb me!"

  Madam Bo nodded slightly, bowed her head and said: "Yes, sir!"

  "Father?" "Father!" Cao ignored his children's calls and entered the mansion.

  "Rui'er?" Madame Bian called out to Lü Rui, "This has nothing to do with me!"

  "Second Aunt!" Lü Rui bowed to Madame Bian.

  Madam Pan asked: "Rui'er? What's this, sir?"

  Lü Rui rolled his eyes and said: "Uncle Zhong's mood is not good, right? Today the rebel bandits rioted, Uncle Zhong went to quell the riot!"

  The news of Yang Feng's rebellion couldn't have spread that quickly, since the imperial court hadn't even made a decision yet! Madame Bian nodded and said: "I see, Rui'er is also tired, go rest now!"

  "Goodbye, young one!" Lü Rui bowed slightly and retreated, Madam Bian was indeed the future Empress of Great Wei, she knew what to ask and what not to ask!

  Lü Rui returned to his own room, mumbling to himself, "Today I'm dead tired, first get a good sleep and talk about it later!" Lü Rui plopped down onto his bed, hugging the big tree that was Old Cao, feeling carefree.

  Lü Rui slept all the way until dinner time, haha! So comfortable, this is the life I want, Ling'er said by his side: "Young master, it's time to eat!"

  Lü Rui nodded and changed his clothes, then went to the dining hall to eat.

  "Madam, the master says he won't eat anymore!"

  "What? The old master won't eat?" Mrs. Ding glared at him angrily!

  "The old master has finished his dinner and is now discussing matters with Lord Xun and others."

  "Well, in that case, let's eat!" In response to Cao's refusal to eat, Mrs. Ding also didn't say anything, Old Cao won't eat, we'll eat!

  After dinner, Mrs. Ding left first, and the butler came to Lü Rui's side, bowed his hands and said: "Young Master, the old master invites you to play chess with him!"

  No way? Old Cao is so depressed he wants to lose money? Alright, let's take advantage of Old Cao!

  "Rui'er?"

  "Second daughter?"

  "I know your father's temper, if he doesn't come out to eat, he definitely won't be full. Here are some snacks made by Second Aunt, take them and have a meal with your father together!"

  "Yes, Second Lady." Lü Rui let the servant take over the refreshments and then headed towards Cao's residence.

  Lv Rui arrived at Cao's residence, which was Liu Xie's residence not long ago. Now, everything has changed!

  Cao was sitting in front of the chessboard at this time, staring at the chessboard, and didn't know what he was thinking about. "Uncle Zhong?"

  "Rui'er, you're here? Alright, come and keep Grandfather company for a game of chess. Today, Grandfather has prepared quite a few things!"

  "Yes, Uncle!"

  Cao was clearly out of sorts and lost a lot of money in less than an hour. Lü Rui, who had received money from Cao before, said: "Uncle Zhong, you've lost again today!"

  Cao looked at Lü Rui and smiled: "Rui, your chess skills have improved a lot. Father Zhong is getting more and more inferior to you!"

  "Hehe!"

  Looking at the happy Lü Rui, Cao suddenly asked: "Rui'er, if you truly treat someone with kindness and they betray you, what would you do?"

  Lü Bu was taken aback, looking at Cao Cao, whose face now wore a bitter smile. Was it disappointment? Heartbreak? There was no way to know. Judging from Cao Cao's actions over this period of time, he indeed appeared to be a loyal subject dedicated to restoring the Han Dynasty. However, with the imperial power being weak at this moment, conflicts with Emperor Xian were inevitable! This wasn't something that could be explained in just one or two sentences.

  Lü Rui scratched his head and said: "Uncle Zhong, if that's the case, I won't be sincere to a certain person anymore!"

  "Will you never be sincere with someone?"

  "Haha! Well said! I would rather betray the whole world than let the whole world betray me!"

  Cao drew his sword and with one stroke cut in two the chair beside him, which was the very seat that Emperor Xian had occupied.

  Lü Rui was startled by all this, wasn't it that Old Cao's words were forced out by himself? Nai nai, I won't become a famous person in the future! Hehe, in the future, history books will be written like this: Lü Rui played chess with Cao Cao, and Cao Cao said the famous phrase that would be passed down through the ages: "I'd rather betray the world than let the world betray me!"

  Just as Lü Ruiyi was about to speak, the housekeeper suddenly came in and reported: "There is a gentleman outside the door who wants to see you, his surname is Zhong, his name is Yu, and his courtesy name is Yuanchang!"

  Cao was overjoyed when he heard the news, and hastily ordered the steward to bring Zhong Yu in. Why would Zhong Yu come at this time? Cao seemed to be in a very happy mood? Was he eager for talent? It didn't seem right, although Zhong Yu was a great talent, but Cao's expression seemed like he had calculated something and was pleased with himself. Did Cao know that Zhong Yu would come?

  Soon, Zhong Yu followed the Guan family to the study room.

  "Zhong You, Zhong Yuanchang, has seen Minister of Works!"

  "Master Yuan Chang, please get up quickly! Our humble office has long admired your talent. Now that we have met today, it is truly a fortunate event!"

  "Thank you, Sir!"

  "Is Master Hou also here? Zhong Yu has met Master Hou!"

  Lü Rui was just checking the things Cao had lost to him when Zhong You greeted him, and Lü Rui looked up in shock. This is Zhong You? He looks like he's only in his twenties? No way, Zhong You should be a middle-aged man in his forties by now, how can he look so young? Is this really the over seventy-year-old Zhong You who gave birth to Zhong Hui? Could it be that he's a demon?!

  Zhong Yu saw Lü Rui staring at himself, so he asked: "Master Hou? Is there something wrong with Yuan Chang? Why are you looking at Yuan Chang like that?"

  Grandma, you can't say that I know my actual age, thinking that I'm a monster? Lü Rui pointed at Zhong Yi and said: "Your hat looks great!" Zhong Yi was wearing a hat sold by Western merchants this time, which is rare in the Central Plains area, probably also to hide his identity!

  Zhong Yu was taken aback for a moment and said: "Master Hou, if you like it, Yuan Chang will give it to Master Hou?"

  Lü Rui shook his head and said, "A gentleman does not take away what others love!"

  Cao Cao and Zhong Yao burst out laughing when they saw Lü Bu's mature appearance.

  After laughing, Zhong Yu and Cao took their seats in order of precedence. After the servants had brought tea, Cao began to get straight to the point, saying: "Yuan Chang, in the past when Wen Ruo recommended you to our lord, our lord appreciated your talent, and you protected Your Majesty from being slaughtered by the Western Liang army in Chang'an. Your merit cannot be ignored!"

  Zhong Yu bowed his hands and said: "Sir, you are overpraising me. This is Yuan Chang's duty!"

  Cao nodded, took a sip of tea, and stared at Zhong Yu, saying: "Yuanchang, this trip to the Sima Mansion, isn't it just to take a look at the Master of the Mansion? Speak up, what's your true intention in coming here!"

  It has begun, the formal conversation has started. Zhong Yu looked at Cao Zhen's sharp gaze and said slowly: "When Yuan Chang first arrived in Xudu, he wanted to serve the imperial court, but unfortunately had no way to do so. Now, I have come to the residence of the Minister of Works, seeking a humble position to serve the great Han!"

  Grandma's, Zhong Yu comes to ask for a part-time job? Isn't this nonsense? If you want to join the team, just join it, what's the point of so much idle chatter!

  Cao's eyes rolled around, seemingly trying to find a weakness in Zhong Yu, but Zhong Yu continued to look at Cao with an air of calmness. After a moment of staring at each other, Cao burst out laughing and said: "Yu Chang is too polite, this humble official has always admired Yu Chang's talent, with Yu Chang's help, what great thing can't be accomplished?"

  Zhong Yu cupped his hands and said: "Sir, you are overpraising me. It's not just Yuan Chang, but many of the staff who admire you also want to follow you!"

  Cao nodded and said: "This official understands, Yuan Chang, the sky is already late, I won't keep you any longer. Tomorrow, I will send Gong Da to visit your mansion. Today, this official is a bit tired."

  Zhong Yu nodded and said, "Yuan Chang bids farewell!" Then the steward took Zhong Yu away. After Zhong Yu left, another shadow appeared in the house, unexpectedly, the Shadow Strategist came out again!

  "In the dark shadows, the strategist said: 'Congratulations, Your Excellency. It seems that all the wise men in the court will support you!'"

  Cao smiled after hearing, not bad, the insightful scholars in the court indeed support themselves. The world is Liu's family, but the court is the ministers'! In order to benefit their respective families, they can only surrender to Cao. Only I! Cao Mengde, a versatile talent, is the one who can pacify the world and is also the hero who can gain the greatest benefits for the ministers!

  "Almost everyone guessed correctly that one of the mysterious strategists is Xi Zhicai, but the mysterious strategist is a trio, known as: Cao Mengde's astonishment (this is familiar to everyone, just like Athena's astonishment, Cao Mengde's astonishment is earth-shattering and ghostly! It ruins Zhuge and harms Eastern Wu)"